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Prior to now a number of weeks, our world has been rocked.

The COVID-19 pandemic modified virtually each side of our lives. Collectively, we’ve confronted extraordinary and unprecedented challenges.

This very critical virus has attacked the aged, infants and all ages in between. The toll has been gut-wrenching with Kansans statewide testing constructive and falling unwell, and so many households shedding family members to the illness.

Enterprise closings and job losses compounded the ache as we needed to keep dwelling to remain secure and save lives.

However within the midst of the devastating harm to our bodily and financial well being, there’s hope.

By being proactive, we’ve managed to stave off even worse losses of the magnitude skilled in different states. Coronavirus-driven hospitalization and demise charges have steadily fallen. We’ve ramped up testing wanted to establish who’s contaminated earlier than they unknowingly unfold the illness.

And now, after a number of weeks of being cooped up below a stay-home order, it’s time to maneuver ahead — rigorously — and towards a brand new regular routine.

On Thursday I introduced the state’s official plan to reopen our financial system in a cautious, measured manner. “Advert Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas” outlines clear and particular instructions for people, colleges, companies and occasions in three phases of reopening. See particulars at covid.ks.gov.

The reopening plan, which begins Monday, permits public gatherings to broaden from 10 and upward as we make progress with health-related metrics. We’ll consider Kansas’ illness unfold, testing charges, hospitalizations, private protecting tools availability and different elements earlier than shifting from one section to the following.

Science and knowledge will dictate how rapidly — or slowly — the reopening unfolds. We merely can’t let our guard down in opposition to a coronavirus that’s lived as much as its “novel” label.

No doubt, we’re all desirous to declare victory and resume our pre-COVID 19 routine. And shortly sufficient we might be settling in at our favourite eating places, and once more trying out the products at native shops. Ultimately we’ll be having fun with our youngsters’ sports activities and getting lengthy overdue haircuts.

However as we strategy new phases of openness, it’s completely essential to be cautious. Medical specialists warn of a tough fall and winter if we disregard the virus and transfer ahead too rapidly.

Our plan to reopen was developed with enter from public well being specialists, enterprise leaders, state legislators, native officers and others with eager information of the challenges and alternatives. The result’s a Kansas-specific strategy that additionally lets county leaders tailor restrictions to their particular wants. For instance, a county could also be extra restrictive than the state in the event that they expertise a brand new cluster of constructive circumstances.

No matter the place you’re in Kansas, the identical public well being recommendation nonetheless stands: wash your palms typically, keep dwelling if you’re sick and keep at the very least 6 ft of distance in public. By doing so that you’ll be extra prone to keep wholesome, and defend your loved ones, buddies and front-line staff who’re risking their very own well being to maintain us secure.

Nobody is aware of for certain if or after we’ll get again to the life we knew earlier than COVID-19. For now, one factor is definite: Everybody should proceed to take this public well being risk critically.

My administration will proceed doing its utmost to guard our most susceptible residents and all others who may fall prey to this lethal virus. We’re additionally dedicated to getting Kansans again to work in secure and wholesome environments.

By way of each troublesome step on this disheartening journey, Kansans’ spirit and willpower have epitomized our very applicable state motto, Advert Astra per Aspera: “To the celebs by means of difficulties.”

I’m assured that by working collectively, we’ll get by means of this and emerge even stronger than earlier than. That’s the Kansas manner.

Laura Kelly is the 48th governor of Kansas.